France scrum-half Dimitri Yachvili has pulled out of tomorrow's Six Nations clash with Italy because of a bruised thigh.

The Biarritz man will be replaced at No 9 in Rome by fellow goalkicker Morgan Parra, with Montpellier's Julien Tomas on the bench.

Clermont half-back Parra kicked five penalties in last month's 25-22 victory at Lansdowne Road, but coach Marc Lievremont dropped him and picked Yachvili for the 17-9 defeat in England two weeks ago.

Italy coach Nick Mallett has left out full-back Luke McLean in one of seven changes to his side.

Andrea Masi moves from the wing to No 15, with Tommaso Benvenuti, Gonzalo Garcia and Luciano Orquera coming into the backline and Carlo del Fava, Andrea Lo Cicero and Carlo Festuccia come into the team.

Italy's 24-16 home defeat by Wales in Rome two weeks ago was their third straight defeat.

Mallett has once again fiddled with his half-back pairing, with Kris Burton making way for Orquera. The Brive No 10 will partner scrum-half Fabio Semenzato, the Azzurri's man-of- the-match against Wales.